Richard Branson, Billionaire Virgin Group Mogul, Survives Scary Bike Accident

Billionaire Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, feels lucky to have survived a bad bike accident earlier this week.

Richard Branson Bike Accident

On Monday, Branson had been biking on Virgin Gorda island with his children Holly and Sam, with whom he has been training for the Virgin Strike Challenge – a month long challenge in Italy that will include biking, hiking and swimming. During a downhill portion of the training, Brandon hit a speed bump and went flying

“I was heading down a hill towards Leverick Bay when it suddenly got really dark and I managed to hit a ‘sleeping policeman’ hump in the road head on. The next thing I knew, I was being hurled over the handlebars and my life was literally flashing before my eyes,” Branson wrote on his website. “I really thought I was going to die. I went flying head-first towards the concrete road, but fortunately my shoulder and cheek took the brunt of the impact, and I was wearing a helmet that saved my life.”

Branson added, “My bike went flying off the cliff and disappeared. We’ve since recovered the crumpled bicycle, completely destroyed. My cheek has been badly damaged and my knee, chin, shoulder and body severely cut.”

Branson’s injuries include a cracked cheek and some torn ligaments. Other than that, the mogul is in good health and still plans on completing the Virgin Strike Challenge next month.

“My attitude has always been, if you fall flat on your face, at least you’re moving forward. All you have to do is get back up and try again. At least I’m practicing what I preach – though a little too literally!” Branson quipped.